Category Archives: Banana republic

Social Democracy, the “Third Way,” and the Crisis of Europe, Part 3

A discussion of why the center-left failed to revive in Europe after the crisis. Some of the reasons apply to the US as well.

Switzerland Seen Backing Down on Supporting Tax Haven USA

The US gets some badly-needed pushback on the tax haven front.

RBS Looted Small Business Customers, Deliberately Driving Thousands in Bankruptcy, While Under Government Ownership

How RBS destroyed thousands of small UK businesses for fun and profit.

Not So Wondrous Drugs? – New Warnings about Severe Adverse Effects of New, Heavily Marketed Drugs for Hepatitis C

Dangerous diseases like hepatitis C make it a bit too easy for drugmakers to peddle wonder cures….

Ham-Handed Theresa May “Hard Brexit” Stance Roils UK Pols, Not Just EU

Theresa May may have thrown a spanner in the Brexit works by pushing for a xenophobic “hard Brexit”. Accident or design?

Private Equity Double Standard: California’s John Chiang, Other State Officials Happily Ding Headline-Grabbing Wells But Look Other Way With PE

State officials like California Treasurer John Chiang eagerly sanction an easy target like Wells Fargo. But private equity? Fuddedaboudit.

Economic ‘Recovery’ Feels Weak Because the Great Recession Hasn’t Really Ended

We are not in a recovery and we’re not really in a traditional recession. People think of a business cycle, which is a boom followed by a recession and then automatic stabilizers revive the economy. But this time we can’t revive.

Be Sure to Catch Lambert’s Presidential Debate LiveBlog/Open Thread Tomorrow at 9 PM EDT

Lambert is again putting on his yellow waders to host another debate confab. Hope you will join him!

Calling All Wells Fargo Whistleblowers!

We have published extensive whistleblower reports and encourage former and current Wells Fargo who’ve witnessed sales abuses to contact us.

Don Quijones: Rescue of Italy’s Monte dei Paschi Gets ‘Dark’ & ‘Complicated’

As Monte dei Paschi flounders, details of past chicanery emerge, implicating Deutsche Bank, Normura, the Bank of Italy, and Maro Draghi.

How Trump and Clinton Gave Bad Answers on US Nuclear Policy….And Why You Should Be Worried

As tensions with Russia rise, neither Presidential candidate gave a straight answer on the use of nuclear weapons.

Don Quijones: Stealth Bailout of 2 Franken-Banks Now Happening in Spain

Another bailout of two of Spain’s franken-banks: mostly state-owned Bankia and wholly state-owned Banco Mare Nostrum (BMN).

Cerberus Uses Private Equity Looting Strategy With Scandal-Ridden Steward Health Care Hospitals

How Cerberus is using a real estate looting strategy to salvage its purchase of Steward Health Care….at the expense of the operations, natch.

Social Democracy, the “Third Way,” and the Crisis of Europe, Part 1

The birth of the Third Way —a turn away from class-struggle politics and a compromise with neoliberaism—and how it shaped the Eurozone.